The Right to Religious Conversion: Between Apostasy and Proselytization

The Right to Religious Conversion: Between Apostasy and Proselytization

August 1, 2006

In this paper for the University of Notre Dame's Kroc Institute, A. Rashied Omar argues that Muslim stances on apostasy and Christian uses of aid to proselytize hinder interreligious cooperation. Omar first compares Christian mission and Muslim da’wah; he then examines the ethics of aid evangelism in conflict settings and the incompatibility of restrictive sharia laws regarding apostasy and religious freedom. Ultimately, Omar calls for interreligious dialogue addressing apostasy and proselytization and encourages Muslim leaders to question the Islamic law of apostasy and Christian leaders to abandon aid evangelism.